Your Scandinavian trip can easily be the most exciting holiday ever if you plan it well enough! With impressive natural sights and the most widely acclaimed phenomena in the world, the European North is known to be one of the most beautiful regions.
However, if you still need help with planning and mapping out the most essential sites to visit, carry on reading. We are here to introduce you to the Scandinavian fjords, Northern Lights, and other must-see sights.
Lofoten Archipelago
Starting off with the most dramatic terrain in Norway, let’s see what you can do during your stay at the Lofoten Archipelago.
With the distinctive scenery of mountain peaks, open sea and sheltered bays, and untouched lands, Lofoten is your stereotypical Norwegian miracle. If you have ever seen pictures of Norway looking like something straight out of a fairytale, chances are you were looking at the beautiful towns of Lofoten.
There are two towns here, one closer to the Arctic Circle and the other one adjacent to the North Pole, and if that does not tell you enough, maybe you ought to know the best sites. Be amazed by the Midnight Sun in the summer, see the rugged beauty of the Trollfjorden, and choose a hiking trail to the Hermannsdalstinden – the highest peak in western Lofoten.
Rabjerg Mile
Stepping off the ice for a minute, check out what is likely the most impressive natural sight in Denmark.
Rabjerg Mile is a migrating coastal dune between the cities of Skagen and Frederikshavn. But what is so special about a dune, you ask? Well, have you ever seen nature in motion? Something that is supposed to be constant but moves exceptionally quickly, changing its location quite dramatically?
Not only is Rabjerg Mile a scenic coastal picture to look at, but it also migrates to over 60 feet a year, proving how alive and dynamic our nature can be. You can also consider it the Danish desert, which is something quite unusual to find in Scandinavia!
Bergen Fjords
Once you are ready for some hardcore nature exploration, grab a quick train from Oslo to Bergen and step on the land of the fjords.
A part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list, the Norwegian fjords are one of the most well-known and spectacular sites in Scandinavia. It should be your top priority while visiting, and there is really no better place to start than in Bergen.
Sure, the city is also known for its broad culture, shows, and great food, but all of these can wait for the time being. You will find several fjords in the city and all around it, one greater than the other, all worth your time and attention, with all kinds of accessibility.
For example, if you think you can manage a 20-kilometer hike, which is quite challenging, seek out the Nærøyfjord, one of the winning landscapes in Norway. However, if hiking is not your thing, you can get quite close to Norway’s third-largest glacier by car. Hardangenfjord is also the second-longest one, known for its dramatic peaks and lows.
That being said, you should really put Sognefjord on your to-do list in Bergen, no questions asked. Undoubtedly the most beautiful and unique, Sognefjord is also called the King of Fjords, and for a good reason. The area beams with mountains, waterfalls, valleys, glaciers, and even some historical sites for a change-up. Discover a whole other world inside one city.
Catching the Northern Lights
There cannot be a successful Scandinavian adventure if you do not see the sky painted in an explosion of colors.
The stunning natural phenomenon that lights up our Nordic countries quite often, the Northern Lights, otherwise known as Aurora Borealis, are sometimes the sole reason people go to Scandinavia.
There are plenty of cities and villages deemed best to see the Auroras, each with a specific time frame and location, so it should be relatively easy to include it next to your fjord adventures and other natural explorations.
You can go Aurora-hunting in Tromso, Norway, visit the Finnish or Swedish Lapland, and even see Reykjavik, where there are plenty of places to see the Northern Lights. However, you should know that nature is quite unpredictable, so while there are high chances to see Auroras if you know the time and the place, they still might not show. Nonetheless – just follow the news on it, and hope for the best!
Discover the magical and unpredictable world of Scandinavia. While the plan is already in motion, consider how much time you can dedicate to the trip. The longer you stay – the more you can explore, so try to work your way around a week or ten days. Now, carry on with your adventurous itinerary, and have the best time in the North!